Capacity limitations in human information processing

The nature of processing demands during a letter-match task was investigated in an extension of the Posner and Boies (1971) paradigm. In Experiment I, a visual probe was employed in addition to an auditory probe in two different experimental conditions. The shape of the auditory probe reaction time (RT) function was similar to that found by Posner and Boies. However, in contrast to their findings, RT was greatly increased shortly after presentation of the first letter for the visual probe function. It was concluded that perceptual as well as postperceptual limitations on processing capacity exist. A second experiment provided further support for this hypothesis.     

Tachistoscope simulation package

A system of FORTRAN-callable subroutines is described that enable a PDP-11/20 computer to function as a multichannel tachistoscope. Features of the system include multiple display buffering, dynamic buffer allocation, control of character size and density, provisions for user-generated characters and symbols, and routines for recording of both vocal and buttonpress responses.     

Be yourself,believe in yourself,and be happy: Self‐efficacy as a mediator between personality factors and subjective well‐being

Strobel, M., Tumasjan, A. & Spörrle, M. (2011). Be yourself, believe in yourself, and be happy: Self‐efficacy as a mediator between personality factors and subjective well‐being. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 52, 43–48. Research has shown close connections between personality and subjective well‐being (SWB), suggesting that personality traits predispose individuals to experience different levels of SWB. Moreover, numerous studies have shown that self‐efficacy is related to both personality factors and SWB. Extending previous research, we show that general self‐efficacy functionally connects personality factors and two components of SWB (life satisfaction and subjective happiness). Our results demonstrate the mediating role of self‐efficacy in linking personality factors and SWB. Consistent with our expectations, the influence of neuroticism, extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness on life satisfaction was mediated by self‐efficacy. Furthermore, self‐efficacy mediated the influence of openness and conscientiousness, but not that of neuroticism and extraversion, on subjective happiness. Results highlight the importance of cognitive beliefs in functionally linking personality traits and SWB.     

Comparative evaluation of computer-based tachistoscopes

Various methods of implementing a computer-based tachistoscope are compared. Software considerations are emphasized, but hardward issues are also examined. Three types of systems are identified: file-driven systems, sets of callable subroutines, and special languages. All have advantages in some circumstances. A system of callable subroutines is favored, together with a file-driven system written in the host language using the subroutines.     

Introduction

A series of eight papers is introduced on methods of using a computer system as a tachistoscope. Comparisons are based on the type of display and the type of software.     

A simulation of visual imagery

This paper describes an operational computer simulation of visual mental imagery in humans. The structure of the simulation was motivated by results of experiments on how people represent information in, and access information from, visual images. The simulation includes a “surface representation,” which is spatial and quasi-pictorial, and an underlying “deep representation,” which contains “perceptual” information encoding appearance plus “propositional” information describing facts about an object. The simulation embodies a theory of how surface images are generated from deep representations, and how surface images are processed when one accesses information embedded in them. The simulation also offers an account of various sorts of imagery transformations.